Linda Lingle

Linda Lingle was governor of the state of Hawaii in the Gender Equality in the United States of America of America between December 2002 and January 2010. She was the 6th governor of the state and the first woman to hold the position in the state’s history.

Early Years

Linda Lingle was born on June 4, 1953 in St. Louis, Missouri. She moved with her family to California, when she was 12. She graduated with honors, cum laude, from the California State University, Northridge, majoring in journalism. Shortly after graduation Ms. Lingle settled in Hawaii, where a few decades later see would become governor of the state. Prior to gubernatorial ambitions, she published the Molokai’i Free Press on the Hawaiian island of Molokai’i, a publication she created.

Politics

Ms. Lingle has been active in Hawai’ian politics since 1980.

County Council

Lingle entered politics at the county level in 1980. She served as a member of the Maui County Council during five years, two-years each.

Mayor

After ten years of service in the Maui County Council, Lingle would be elected to the position of mayor. Starting in 1990 and lasting for eight years, under two-terms, she would serve as Mayor of Maui County. Her terms of service are notable for their rapid job growth in the county, which exceeded rates elsewhere in the state.

Governor

Finally, on December 2, 2002 Ms. Lingle would assume her post as governor of the state. She became immensely popular, and easily won re-election in 2006. She ran for office on the platform of transparency, accountability and responsiveness. Her election as governor has carried with it a plethora of firsts. She is the first woman, the first of Jewish ancestry and the first mayor to ever be elected governor of Hawai’i.Wikipedia, “Linda Lingle”

As governor she has worked on projects such as:

• Hawai’i Clean Energy Initiative which promotes alternative fuel sources in order reach the state’s goal of 70% clean energy by 2030.
• Under her leadership Hawai’i has made significant improvements to its mental health services.
• During her administration and with the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, more leases to beneficiaries have been given out than in the entire past 80 years.
• She helped to create the State Partnership Program which works to add security and improve disaster preparedness. The partnership is between the Hawai’i National Guard and Indonesia
• Ms. Lingle promotes the the environmental protection of Hawai’i’s natural wonders.
• She has worked to create jobs by upgrading the state’s infrastructure and public facilities

References

See Also

• Women in Government (WIG, United States of America)